Monster Hunter Now 12+

I am a big fan of the Monster Hunter series and when I saw this game finally released I downloaded it immediately. The very start of the game is a little bumpy but once you get past that it’s pretty fun. Unlike other Niantic games, monsters and resources spawn anywhere, allowing you to play this pretty much anywhere at any time, with locations of interest having extra resource geodes. The fights are short and fun, yet demanding enough on your part to keep you glued on the screen. Overall the core gameplay is pretty fun, but there are some problems.

First, spawn rates are kinda slow and your circle could be larger. This wouldn’t be too big of a deal normally, but since later upgrades require rare materials, it gets a little annoying, especially if that one monster you need for your gear is behind private property. Second, the pricing on the items seem expensive. A single paintball costs you 1$ USD worth of gems, and all it does is mark a monster so you can battle it later. Finally, if you’re going too fast, you’re pretty much entirely locked out of playing the game. I understand this is to discourage people from gaming and driving, but it is annoying.

Overall, this is a really solid game, especially considering it is brand new. I’m sure it will only improve with more updates! Hopefully Niantic doesn’t over-monetize the game into the ground. So far, this is definitely my favorite Niantic game so far and I would highly recommend it!

If you’ve been following Niantic for any amount of time, you’ll know what to expect. Just like with “Pokémon Go!,” they pack in an addictive gameplay loop revolving around quick interactions. Now if you are a fan of the main series Monster Hunter games, this previous statement may worry you. The point in the main series games is to prep for extensive, intense hunts against really tough monsters. I too was worried.
But having played this game for about 3 days now, I can see where this spin on the franchise can have its own seat in the series. The battles last less than 75sec, as that is the allotted goal to complete the hunt. It’s fun to conquer new monsters, and upgrade weapons and armor just like in other games.
I think where the “fun” really begins is when meeting with other players to take on these foes. That’s where the magic of Niantic shines the brightest.
Accepting that this is not a main installment, and just another creative avenue for Capcom to explore and expand its Monster Hunter influence to more potential fans is key. There certainly is still a lot of work to be done to flesh out the game, but I can see the potential; and I am fully confident in Niantic’s ability to build upon their games over time. Even to this day, I fire up Pokémon Go to take a look at what’s changed in the areas near me. I know this Monster Hunter game will be another one I come back to time and time again for a casual play for years to come.

MH:Now is an awesome interpretation of the mainline games, cutting a few corners to make it work as a mobile game.

The inclusion of multiple weapons is a must, but Niantic should’ve included all 14 weapons from the start, or at least at HR15 like they did. Only having 6 to choose from is a bit of a disappointment. The weapons we do get include many of the mechanics that the regular series does, requiring directional swipes of your thumb to execute. However, not all weapons feel as robust. The Light Bowgun, without a manual reload or even a melee attack, feels like an after thought. For the weapons that do have these mechanics held over from the mainline games, the lack of a Training Dummy means you can’t practice or learn them. This feels like another oversight. The last mention is the lack of an online party. I’m not sure the requirements behind this, but many of my friends are states and countries away. It would be nice to hunt with them and vice versa, as this would allow us to benefit from each other. As it stands now, the friends list looks more like competition between friends rather than co-op.

Aside from these few complaints, I was delighted with how much they did add to the game. With enough marketing, it might even pull in a bunch of new players. I hope it does, so that when the new title releases after MH:Rise, more people will be familiar with it.